They arrived at the colossal gates of Longxiao, the capital of the Dragon Kingdom, as twilight bathed the mountaintops in hues of crimson and gold. Twin dragons, carved from dark, gleaming obsidian, coiled around the immense entrance, their silent forms guarding the way. Banners of the imperial clan, emblazoned with golden scales, snapped crisply in the cool mountain wind. Yet, despite the majestic display, something in the air felt profoundly off—a palpable tension, as if the kingdom itself was holding its breath.
Jin's steps slowed, his usual confident stride faltering. His eyes, typically sharp and alert with a soldier's precision, now darted around the surroundings, a flicker of something akin to dread in their depths. Mei Lin noticed his fingers, usually steady, tremble ever so slightly on the hilt of his sword.
"Jin?" Mei Lin asked softly, her voice barely a whisper. "Is something wrong?"
He hesitated, a fleeting shadow crossing his face, then shook his head, though the movement felt forced. "We're being watched. Stay close."
As the massive gates creaked open, they were greeted not by the expected fanfare, but by a silent, unnerving line of armored guards. These soldiers bore no recognizable sigils, their faces hidden behind dark visors, their gazes cold and unreadable. Mei Lin instinctively felt her Qi begin to hum, preparing for confrontation—but Lian placed a calming, grounding hand on her shoulder.
"These are no ordinary soldiers," the sage murmured, her voice low. "They serve a different master now."
They were escorted through echoing corridors into the Hall of Bronze Spears, the grand chamber where the Dragon King was meant to hold court. But the ornate throne sat empty. In its place stood a woman, tall and severe, clad in stark silver armor, her face obscured by a black veil that seemed to absorb all light.
"Jin Longwei," she said, her voice cutting through the heavy silence like a shard of ice. "You dare return."
Jin stiffened, his eyes burning with a sudden, raw fury. "You..." He gritted his teeth, a muscle twitching in his jaw. For the first time since Mei Lin had known him, he visibly hesitated to draw his sword, his hand hovering over the hilt, shaking with suppressed rage.
Lian whispered beside Mei Lin, "That's General Yue, Jin's former commander—and his betrayer."
A thick, suffocating silence descended upon the hall, heavy with unspoken history.
"You left us to die," Jin growled, his voice low and guttural, strained with a deep, old wound. "At the Red Gorge. My brother—"
"Your brother was a traitor," Yue snapped, her voice devoid of emotion, cutting off Jin's accusation. "And so were you. The king is dead, Jin. The council blames you. You shouldn't have come back."
Suddenly, the cold, silent guards surged forward, spears clashing as they surrounded them, forming an impenetrable wall. Tian snarled, his six tails bristling, a low, dangerous growl rumbling in his chest. Lian raised her staff, her demeanor calm but her eyes alight with firm resolve.
"Enough!" Mei Lin's voice rang out, clear and commanding, surprising even herself. A burst of raw Qi flared around her like wildfire, the celestial markings of the Seal of Harmony glowing faintly across her arm. The room fell into a stunned, immediate silence as the guards recoiled, taken aback by her unexpected power.
"We didn't come to argue," she declared, her gaze unwavering as she met General Yue's veiled eyes. "We came for allies. But if this kingdom would rather cling to ghosts and old grudges than face the real enemy—the Nightspawn and Lord Xian—then we'll go to war without you."
The air crackled with a palpable tension, thick enough to taste. General Yue studied Mei Lin for a long moment, her veiled face unreadable. Then, with a curt, dismissive gesture, she turned away.
"You have three days," Yue stated, her voice cold and final. "Stay. Or leave. But if Jin draws that sword again on Dragon soil… he'll die by it."
They were led away through silent, moonlit corridors that felt suddenly oppressive. As they walked, Jin remained utterly silent, his jaw clenched tight, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance.
Mei Lin finally found her voice, her heart aching for her friend. "What happened at the Red Gorge, Jin?"
He didn't answer.
But later that night, as the others slept soundly, Mei Lin woke to find Jin outside their assigned chambers, silhouetted against the moonlight, staring intently at his sheathed blade.
"It's not that I can't draw it," he whispered, his voice raw, not bothering to turn. "It's that I swore I never would. Not until I avenge him… or forgive her."